🚩 Local Scams · Huang Shan (Mount Huangshan & Tunxi)
Last verified 30 Jun 2025
1 Scam Spotlight Table
"Express Cable-Car Pass"
Tangkou bus drop-off, 200 m before ticket hall
How it works: Tout claims official tickets sold-out, offers ¥380 "VIP cabin"; hands you a used QR that won't scan.
🛡️ Avoid: Ignore all street sellers—buy at huangshan.12301.cn or on-site window (same ¥100–¥125).
Fake Shuttle-Bus Counter
Outside Tangkou parking & gas station
How it works: Pop-up booth sells "scenic shuttle" for ¥50; boards private minivan that stops at jade & tea shops for 90 min.
🛡️ Avoid: Official green buses depart inside ticket center; fare ¥19/rt (Yungu) or ¥20/rt (Taiping).
"Licensed Mountain Guide"
Cloud Valley trailheads
How it works: Vest-wearer shows blurred badge, quotes ¥600 day rate, then abandons group before sunset.
🛡️ Avoid: Guides must wear metal badge + QR you can scan; typical English guide ¥300–¥400/ day.
Overpriced Rain-Gear & Crampons
Shuttle-bus queue cages
How it works: Vendor insists summit wind "must" have spikes + plastic coat, charges ¥120; same items ¥15 at town grocery.
🛡️ Avoid: Bring own poncho; spikes needed only after snow (Dec – Feb).
Photography "Gold Spot" Fee
Refreshing Terrace
How it works: Man blocks viewpoint plank, claims ¥30 tripod fee for sunrise photo, issues fake receipt.
🛡️ Avoid: All public decks are free; hotel rooftops charge clearly posted ¥60–¥80.
Tea-House "Free Tasting"
Tunxi Old Street
How it works: Host pours three sips of "Maofeng" green tea, then demands ¥680/100 g "ceremonial" batch.
🛡️ Avoid: Genuine Maofeng ¥180–¥260/100 g; buy only at state-certified stores (red QS seal).
Meter-less Taxi "Tunnel Toll"
Huangshan North Railway
How it works: Driver quotes flat ¥120 to Tunxi → Tangkou, claims "Yuanyi tunnel surcharge"; real fare ≈ ¥90 on meter.
🛡️ Avoid: Demand meter + printed receipt or use DiDi (≈ ¥95).
QR-Code Phishing
Cable-car waiting pens
How it works: Sticker on cable-car pillar advertises "half-price ticket", opens fake WeChat Pay page.
🛡️ Avoid: Scan only QR printed on official boards; URL must start "pay.huangshan.com".
2 Why It Matters
Single gateway bottleneck – Huangshan's compulsory shuttle-bus & cable-car system creates a perfect interception point for hustlers targeting first-time visitors before they reach official counters.
Weather dependency – Sunrise viewing pressure and unpredictable mountain weather create urgency that scammers exploit to sell overpriced gear and "guaranteed" viewing spots.
Remote location isolation – Being far from urban centers means fewer alternatives and higher stakes—knowing the patterns saves hundreds of yuan and prevents missed sunrise experiences.
3 Pro Tips
1
Book official tickets only via huangshan.12301.cn mini-program or onsite window—street sales are fake.
2
Keep shuttle stub—you'll need it to exit the park after descent; lost ticket costs another ¥20.
3
Pack layers & poncho in Tunxi—mountain kiosk prices triple in foggy weather.
4
Hotel luggage porters wear yellow ID bibs & price board (¥20/bag); any "friend of porter" is a tout.
5
Emergency numbers—Scenic Area Police 110 • Tourism hotline 12301—save them before the climb.
✨ Stay Smart, Stay Safe
Stay sharp and keep Huang Shan about sea-of-clouds panoramas, not surprise "VIP" bills—No Tourist Traps. No BS.